The Resurrection: Recognizing Christ

Summary

An adult leads a discussion with the
children about the created world.

An adult leads a discussion with the
children about their own creativity.

An adult leads a sharing activity with the
children, and discusses acts of kindness.

Luke 24.1-15 is read aloud.

An adult leads a discussion of the meaning
of the reading, and its application today.

People

One or more adults to lead the
teaching.

Children to bring in aspects of God's
creation and their own.

A child to help with the sharing
activity.

Adult(s) or competent child(ren) for the
reading.

Props

A Bible

Examples of the created world and of the
children's own creativity.

A bowl of chocolate buttons or similar
sweets.

Preparation

In the lead-up to the service, ask some
children (or adults if necessary) to choose and bring in some of their
favourite examples of creation. This can be anything from a small pet to
a flower, stone or photograph of a favourite scene.

Also ask some children to bring in things
that they themselves have made.

Prime two children to help you with the
sharing activity. See below for explanation.

Teaching Notes

Ask the children to show the aspects of
creation that they have chosen. Ask them about why they chose that
particular thing, how they feel about it and why they like it. You could
also ask the congregation about their favourite aspects of creation.

Do the same with the created objects that
the children have brought. Why did they make that, what part of the
process was most difficult, why do they like it, etc. Again, you could
expand the discussion by including the adults if you wish. What sorts of
things do they make, do they work alone or with others, how do they feel
when things go wrong/right, etc.

Bring out the bowl of chocolate buttons
and talk about how one of the most delicious things that humans make is
chocolate. Offer the buttons around the children for all to share. Have
one child primed to hang back until they've all gone, and then complain
loudly that s/he didn't get any. Have another, older child primed to give
up the buttons s/he's taken. Talk about how we feel when people act
kindly in this way. Ask for other examples of acts of kindness that the
children or wider congregation have experienced.

Talk through the reading, making links
back to the points that have been explored so far. The disciples were
distressed and confused - they'd thought that Jesus was the answer to all
their prayers, but then he was crucified, and then even more puzzlingly
some of the women said they'd seen him alive again. They were together.
Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they didn't recognise
him.

How often does Jesus come alongside us
when we are confused and distressed? In our prayers, in the people
whose acts of kindness ease our way; in the glory of creation that
lifts our hearts; in the work or recreation by which we distract
ourselves. What prevents us from recognising him? A dogmatic
assertion that religion is rubbish? A failure to notice his provision
and others' kindness (e.g. the nursing home & its staff)? A focus
on the negative so that we're blind to creation and to the joy of
creativity?

Jesus came alongside the disciples when
they were together on the road.

He comes alongside us when we gather
with other Christians, too, whether in church or elsewhere.

He opened up their minds to understand the
Bible.

When we come together, in church or
elsewhere, to ask questions and puzzle over things and even to doubt
things, Jesus opens our minds to understand the Bible. Sometimes he
does this through books or sermons or conversations. Sometimes
through prayer.

At last they recognised him in the
breaking of the bread.

What is it that makes us recognise
Jesus at last today? When we come to church, do we encounter him when
we take Communion - when the priest breaks the bread? Do we recognise
him in the familiarity of the elements of our worship: BCP for some
of us, prayers and songs from school assemblies for others? Do we
recognise him in his Creation, in our creativity, in others' acts of
kindness? When we recognise that he is truly alongside us, then our
perception is transformed. Our distress and confusion are lifted by
his power: "take my yoke upon you" - Jesus helps and guides us along
life's paths.What is it that opens our eyes?